I bought a Progidy brake controller, tested it, about to install it. According to the pictures, it looks like the "default" mounting location for the pocket is on the front, left edge of the lower part of the dash, very near the connector.

I'm concerned that the pocket will be sticking out quite a bit with just the two screws to hold it. It's plastic...tough plastic...but It seems like there ought to be a better place to mount it.

I can put it there, but I thought I'd ask here to see where others have mounted them and how. Looks like I need to leave some "slack" in the connector cable so that I can attach it to the unit before I insert it into the pocket.

Sorry if this is patently obvious, but this is the first time I've fooled with a brake controller.<g> So I'm looking for advice and guidance, recommendations, gotcha's, etc..

 

It's really personal preference on where you acutally install it IMO.

You really want to put it in a place that you can easily reach it in order to hit the manual brake activation lever in case of emergency. But, you also need to keep it out of the way when you enter and exit the vehicle......

I don't know if this is the best place, but it was easy to do and it's out of MY way......

I mounted it on the fuse box panel door on the left side of the wheel. I also used the mount that allows you to remove the controller when not in use. This also saves on knee room.

Since I drive with the seat as far back as it will go (I'm 6'3") I don't have any issues with hitting it with my knee.

However, when my wife drives the truck, she has the seat almost all the way forward and she does hit the thing.

Since she only drives it on rare occasions anyway, I'm not going to move it!!

Good luck!

 

I looked in that area, too.<g> I'm short, so hitting it with my knees isn't a problem, even though I drive with the seat fairly close. I'm more concerned with things like satchels and other things that I routinely put in and take out of the truck. I could put them in the back floorboard, I guess...

There really isn't a great place to install it that would be out of the way...shame there isn't a recess or pocket where it could be mounted, where it would also be reachable.

I'll check around at some of the custom truck places and other spots where they deal with a lot of trailer towing gear to see if I can pick up an other ideas. Otherwise, looks like I'll put in the standard place for lack of a better location.

Thanks for the feedback!

 

Prodigy's are expensive and easily removed, so I've decided I would remove mine when not towing, less interference with normal everyday driving. I mounted mine between the steering wheel and the fuse cover, looks like it might be in the way, but I've never hit it accidently

 

I have mine mounted to the fuse box door, I did this after reading a few recommendations here. I just used some small machine screws with star washers and nuts on the back. It looks like it would be in a spot to get bumped easily but I have never bumped it. When I am not towing I remove the unit from the bracket and the cord slack loops over and tucks back in the bracket nicely. When I install it I can push the extra cable slack through the back and down behind the kickpanel. I have the rest of the cable harness ty-wrapped under the dash so the leads are coming from that area.

Pretty simple installation, no real gotcha's. Just read the Prodigy instructions for wiring to the Ford harness, do not just match wires by color.

 

I mounted mine just under the edge of the dash on a " Home made" bracket. I made a flat bracket with a small 90 degree bend on the one end and drilled 2 holes in it.I attached this bracket to the lower dash screws below the area of the fuse door and mounted the prodigy bracket to it . It keeps it out of the way, doesnt require drilling into the dash and keeps the right angle needed for install. Its also high enough not to get in the way of E brake release. My father liked it so much he had me make him one. If I ever decide to remove it from the truck its just a matter of taking 2 screws out, remove bracket and put the screws back in.

I`m with suvdrvr also. I remove it from the bracket and put it in its case when not using it. When needed all you do is slide it back in and hook the connector up.

Heres a pic I sent to my father after mounting his for approval. He opted to use the metal bracket versus the slide in I used on mine. Either can be used this way but as you see it nestles it in there. I`m 6`1" and so is he and neither of us hit in when installed. Mine looks the same as his except you see the plastic pocket mount on mine

 

TLeBlanc
Sorry for the big pics but here is a side view with mount visible: It also shows the unit still maintains a slight angle as required.

 

I'm planning to use the "pocket" bracket to hold the controller. I can see where the normal mounting position is easy to reach the manual brake lever there.

I see that BillP603 and 2000FordStyle mounted theirs on the left under the dash near the fuse holder. I'm not sure I can reach the unit there while driving.

I assume you leave the interface cable connected to the receptor under the dash and connect/disconnect the cable at the controller, which means some slack is needed to connect then insert the controller in the pocket.

Since I won't be towing regularly, just infrequently, I'll also remove the unit when not in use. That's why I'm a bit more focused on trying to find a spot to mount the pocket that won't be in the way. Maybe it's not as bad as I think...probably isn't...<g> But when I dry fit it, it sure looks like it's vulnerable there on the lower dash to the right of the accelerator area.

 

TLeBlanc
Yes you do need to leave a little slack to be able to disconnect the plug from the back of the controller easy. It can be done without slack but you better have small fingers and be able to get behind the pocket mount easily.. I left slack in mine and just pop it off.
Keep this in mind. When you disconnect the connector from the Prodig it is still connected to the vehicles wiring on the other end and has power in it. After removing mine one time I pushed the prodigy end back in the pocket mount and went a little too far. When the connector fell out the back it hit a piece of metal on the dash mount just right and I had a nice split second spark show. I now let it stay out front a little more when disconnected.

You still can reach the unit mounted where it is in the picture. You really only need to reach it when first adjusting it after install and each time you adjust the brakes for the load changes. If you need to reach the manual lever on the bottom its still an easy reach if needed the way its mounted at a slight angle. Of course your arm length may vary..

 

It's growing on me... I like the bracket idea, that's a slick way to mount it. If done right, the pocket without the controller would be well out of the way, practically invisible...unlike stuck on the bottom of the center section of the dash. I might have to have it sticking out a bit further to reach it...experimented with it a bit last night...it's not as bad as I thought it might be.

If I can get a slight "up" angle to the bracket, bit less than 90 degress, it will be easier to reach the manual lever underneath and easier to read and adjust. Need to experiment. Nice thing about the bracket...can make 'em and try 'em...then try it with a bit different angle, etc.

Like I said...it's growing on me...<g> I've delayed installing it until I can explore this a bit more, but getting a bracket like that is easy...could make several with slightly different measurements to try...just 2 screws...

 

Here's my installation:



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